Estonia considers light jets to intercept Russian drones

Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem has suggested that the country may need to acquire light jet aircraft to counter increasingly sophisticated, jet-powered long-range attack drones from Russia. Speaking following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Herem noted that air-to-air weapons are the most effective method for intercepting such threats, suggesting that existing turboprop aircraft might be insufficient.

Estonia currently lacks a domestic fleet of combat jets, relying instead on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission for fighter cover. The defense minister indicated that the nation could potentially utilize its existing L-39 Albatros jet trainers, exploring whether they could be equipped with machine guns or small cannons to serve a defensive role. Other proposed solutions include computer-controlled cannons, heavy machine guns, and jet-powered interceptor drones.